The wildfires currently raging through Los Angeles County have been causing significant damage across the area. The root cause is still being investigated, but infrastructure or equipment issues can make the situation worse–none more than if fire hydrants are empty or don’t work properly. Our team can help you understand your options and who you can hold accountable for damage you’ve gone through. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Are Empty Fire Hydrants Liable for the Los Angeles Fires?
When it comes to liability for the Los Angeles fires (or any wildfire), it all comes down to negligence. Many wildfires happen because someone or some group failed to act responsibly. This often forms the foundation of liability in legal claim, and has four elements:
- Duty of Care – Someone had a responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent harm, like keeping fire hydrants working in wildfire-prone areas.
- Breach of Duty – They didn’t meet that responsibility, such as failing to maintain the fire hydrants.
- Causation – That failure directly made the wildfire worse or delayed firefighting efforts.
- Damages – The wildfire caused losses, like property damage or injuries, because of their negligence.
As it specifically relates to empty fire hydrants, it depends on the circumstances. Obviously, an empty fire hydrant doesn’t cause a wildfire, but not having them makes the resulting damage much worse.
What Options Do You Have to Recover Damages in a Wildfire Claim?
Even an event as tragic and devastating as a wildfire has a cause, but an empty fire hydrant could easily be considered negligence. At that point, you would need to figure out who owns or is in charge of the fire hydrant itself, and then you can hold them accountable under the law by filing a claim against them. Usually, this means filing a claim against:
- Private utility companies
- Local government agencies
- Property owners
Generally, you can then either file:
- An insurance claim
- A personal injury lawsuit
Once your claim is filed, you can recover things like:
- Property damage – This covers costs you’ll need to repair or replace your home, belongings, or other property destroyed by the fire. This can also include out-of-pocket costs, like evacuation expenses.
- Medical expenses – If you were injured, you may recover the costs for hospital bills, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, or ongoing care.
- Lost income – If the fire or your injuries caused you to miss work, you may be able to claim lost wages. You could also recover future income if you’re unable to work long-term.
- Pain and suffering – This covers the physical pain caused by injuries, including burns, breathing issues, or other lasting harm.
- Emotional distress – Similarly, you can recover costs for the emotional impact of losing your home or dealing with injuries, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
- Reduced quality of life – If the fire has affected your ability to enjoy daily activities or harmed your relationships, you may be entitled to damages for these losses.
- Wrongful death expenses – If you lost a loved one in the fire, you could recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and costs for the emotional toll.
If the fires in Los Angeles County have impacted your life, we can guide you through the claims process to help you get the financial support you need to rebuild.
Contact Maison Law For Help During the Los Angeles Fires
At Maison Law, our team understands the devastation wildfires like the ones in Los Angeles County Fire cause, especially when empty or poorly maintained fire hydrants make the situation worse. If you believe the negligence of the local government or water companies have added to your losses by not keeping up their fire hydrants, we’re here to help. Contact us today or fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation and talk about your legal options.
